Saturday, July 2, 2011

Genome Study and a Greater Understanding of Ovarian Cancer

I have wondered many times over the past 5+ years:
What makes my ovarian cancer tumor different than other women's tumors?
What about my tumor has allowed chemotherapy drugs to work effectively so that I would go in to remission, more than once? One possible answer might be the Selenium trial I was on.
Why do some women's tumors , even if they have the same subtype of OC, the same estrogen , progesterin analysis, still continue grow when exposed to the same chemotherapy?

Well, some of these questions have the potential for being answered. More than 500 ovarian serious adenocarcinoma tumors were examined as part of The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network Study (TCGA). This was reported in the June 30th issue of Nature by the NCI.

What are some things they learn? Mutations in the gene TP53 which would normally prevent cancer from forming was found in 96% of the samples tested. The study found 68 genes that could be targeted for treatment by current FDA approved or experimental compounds. The study identified subtypes of the disease based on patterns in RNA transription from DNA. They also found that when the small molecule ( methyl compound) is added to the DNA the gene activity is affected.

I urge you to read this NCI press release and the summary in Nature for more information on what will definitely affect future areas of Ovarian Cancer Research.

Dee
Every Day is a Blessing!

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